Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-06-23
The Hsrsuit Or Ths lake.

fs.
Not far ffum the Town OF EmarHtds
In Northwestern Michigan. Hes Lake
Kekomoe. Fer seventy years oita ~
its islands has been the ahasle of atil-
galar and mysterious man, He is
called by the inhabitants Of the locality
Hermit Joe If Hahlnnt, which means,
Ia the language Of the Winnehasaes,
s'friendless. The name Il not appllc-
able now. for he counts his friends by
the score among the sportsman who
visit tho region In the Fail and Winter.
Whence ha eamc or why he abandoned
civilized society IL a matter OF conlec-
ture. Although hospitabla and friand-
iy TO all that call at his cabin. hc has
never made aeonfidant Of anyone nor
given tn account OF his early life. His
hair Ii white. and falls IN abundant
tresses over broad shoulders which age
has not banL Tall and strong as a
tree la its native woods, his form Is q
fine specimen of physical manhood.
At first he lived ON tho mainland at
| the foot of hill, hut a. landslide de-
stroyed his hut one Spring, which
caused him to move TO the island.
Here he built substantial cabin OF
logs and stones, decorating the interior
with the antlers of deer and the CANDY
plumage of birds. Light Is admitted by
three small windows and ono door furn-
ishes the means OF entrance. The old
Fireplace of stone and clay has been re-
placed by u sheet iron stove on which
| the frugal meal is now prepared. Bear
and raccoon skins take the place Of
| mats and carpets, and the room has o
1 ffNf ar ~
| hungry sportsmen. On the outer walls
hang innumerable nets and fish-iines,
| with few stretchers for musk-rat
| skins.
On warm Summer days the old man
| sits for hours on a rude seat under an
oYer-hanging willow, indulging in such
thoughts as only his fancy can create.
| A life of abstemious habits and free
dom from worldly care and vices have
| given him majestic and venerable
/ appearance. He is very fond of pets
and has tanned number of birds and
squirrels. These come TO his whistle
and go in and out of the house without
| the slightest fear. But his affections
center on his hounds, which are his
only companions during most of the
year, and whose company he prefers
to human beings. He raises vegeta-
bles and corn sufficient for his Winters
wants, in small field which he clear
ed many years ago. Numerous chick
ems and ducks live ON the little farm
and pigs are also seen there. 81
During his residence at the lake he
has met with many adventures and had
narrow escapes from death. He shows
the scars of encounters with bears
and enraged deer. The Indians used
to annoy him by setting loop-traps Of
hide tied to bent sapling, on which
he would trip and get jerked off his
feet. Sometimes wild animals would
raid his place, carrying off most of his
stock. To guard. against such depre-
dations, he dug cave wherein he con-
fined his fowls and hogs at night.
Superstition is one of his chief traits. He
/ viii not eat a fish for days if he catches
one that has swallowed another, nor
go out of the house until midday if his
4 rooster fails to crow at dawn. He
thinks these incidents forebode his
death by some unseen power. Other
wise he seems contented with his lot
and gives promise of living a hundred
/ wears.